Reduce Workplace Injuries
As you know, when heavy equipment is used on a job site, it is vitally important to ensure the safety of your workers. According to WorkSafeBC, 145,803 injuries were reported in BC in 2015 resulting in 122 work-related death claims, 6,628 short-term disability claims, 2.6 million days lost from work.
Of those work-related injuries, the two leading sectors were Construction and Manufacturing. With those statistics in mind, how can you prevent such tragedies from occurring on your watch?
1. Ensure Employees are Properly Trained
Obviously, the better trained your workers are in the use of your machinery, not only will your worksite be safer, but your workers with have the skills to be more efficient.
All workers need to be trained each time they are introduced to a new job task and written procedures should also be provided along with job specific training. Just because someone says they’ve done something before and know what they’re doing, doesn’t mean they actually do.
It is also important to note that workers have the right to refuse work if they feel they have not been properly trained.
2. Know Where the Utility Lines are
It might seem obvious, but despite the dangers, some people still take shortcuts. If you’re digging, you need know where all facilities are (i.e. pipelines, telecommunication cables, water and sewage lines, and electrical wires). If you are in any way unsure, phone the appropriate resources.
Once you know, it is important that you use hand tools around buried facilities to expose them and never use a sharp instrument.
BCOneCall gives you two easy options use:
Call 1.800.474.6886 or go online at http://www.bconecall.ca
3. Create a Culture of Jobsite Awareness
When working with mobile equipment such as excavators, dump trucks, or rollers, it becomes second nature to always be aware of what’s going on. But new employees may not be aware that the responsibility goes beyond the operator to those in the vicinity, especially when the operator can’t see them. This is why it’s important to create a culture on the worksite in which everyone is wearing high visibility apparel and is always aware of what is happening around them.
It is also important to note, that the use a cell phone onsite can distract you as you may not see or hear equipment moving.
Note: Drivers are prohibited from using a cell phone while operating equipment.
4. Manage the Risks on a Job Site
If most people are aware of the hazards, and there are a number of ways to ensure the safety of your workers, why are there still so many accidents?
The simple answer: people relax the rules or ignore them altogether. They think, it won’t happen to them. So, as the employer, one of the most effective ways to counteract this relaxation in safety protocol is to perform regular inspections.
When you perform an inspection:
- Observe your workers while they preform specific tasks to ensure they know how to use the equipment correctly. Make sure no one is picking up any lazy or bad habits. While these procedures may be second-nature to you, some of your workers, especially newer hires, may not know as much as they think they do.
- Make sure everyone is wearing the necessary protective gear.
- Walk through your entire work area looking for hazards.
- Ask your workers about any safety concerns they may have. Each worker has a unique perspective depending on their job, and they may have noticed something you didn’t.
Conclusion
Creating a safe worksite not only safeguards the lives of your workers, it also helps improve productivity, happiness, and decreases costs. It does take diligence. We all need a reminder every once in a while. Not only is it important to make sure your crew is working correctly, it’s just as imperative to ensure your equipment is running smoothly. Outdated and/or failing machinery can endanger your workers.
If it’s time to replace or upgrade your equipment, Thomcat Leasing provides affordable payments that enable your business to continue to grow without taking the hit of a big expenditure. Check out Thomcat Leasing to get your free 60 second estimate of your lease payments.
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